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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, April 28, 2005 -  Contact: Sandra Faux or Joseph Giomboni King’s College Public Relations Office, (570) 208-5958.

FORMER AMBASSADOR TO VATICAN,

VA SECRETARY NICHOLSON

TO SPEAK AT KING'S COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT

April 28, 2005, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. – Former Ambassador to the Holy See R. James Nicholson will deliver the commencement address to the graduating class of King’s College on Sunday, May 22. Mr. Nicholson was U.S. diplomatic representative at the Vatican from 2001 through 2004. A strong advocate of human rights and dignity with special emphasis on religious freedom, starvation, HIV-AIDS, and international terrorism, Ambassador Nicholson was knighted in October 2003 by Pope John Paul II .

He left his diplomatic post at the Vatican in December 2004 when President George W. Bush nominated him to serve as Secretary for Veterans Affairs. He was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Jan. 26, 2005 and was sworn in as Secretary on Feb. 1. The Department of Veterans Affairs is the U.S. government’s second largest Cabinet department with 230,000 employees and a current budget of $69 billion to serve America’s veterans. Secretary H. James “Jim” Nicholson’s department oversees a nationwide system of health care services, benefits programs, and national cemeteries for veterans and their dependents.

Born in 1938, Secretary Nicholson grew up one of seven children on a tenant farm in Iowa. After graduating from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, he served eight years active duty as a paratrooper and Ranger-qualified Army officer. He retired after 22 years in the Army Reserve with the rank of colonel. From his service in Vietnam, Nicholson earned many decorations including the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman badge, and Meritorius Service medal.

Secretary Nicholson holds a master’s degree from Columbia University and a law degree from the University of Denver. He practiced law in Denver before he became a developer of planned residential communities and later the owner of Renaissance Homes, a builder of custom homes. In addition, he served his party as Chairman of the Republican National Committee from 1997 through the 2000 elections.

King’s College Commencement is May 22 at 2 p.m. at the Wachovia Arena. Related events that weekend are the 2004 ROTC Commissioning Ceremony on Saturday, May 21, at 2 p.m. in the Burke Auditorium of The William G. McGowan School of Business at King’s and the Baccalaureate Mass for graduates at 4 p.m. at King’s Scandlon Physical Education Center.

King’s College is a Catholic college sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See and Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson